The Racine County Sheriff's Office says its water patrol responded to a distress call around 8:30 a.m. Saturday, about four miles off shore. The caller told dispatchers the boat was taking on water and the engine wouldn't shift into gear.

The water patrol towed the 18-foot boat back to a boat launch where the operator, a 51-year-old Racine man and his 18-year-old son were able to pull it out of the water.

The owner was ticketed for an equipment violation after authorities determined a water intake was not connected to the engine properly, causing water to flood the boat instead of cooling the engine.

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